Posted on 07/23/2014 5:27:52 AM PDT by cotton1706
With the decision of United States Senator Pat Roberts to skip debates with his opponents, Kansans are deprived of a useful part of the political process.
Election campaigns are an essential element of representative democracy. Campaigns are simultaneously a means for those who seek elective office to connect with voters and a way for citizens to learn about the candidates who are seeking their votes. Political campaign debates are an integral component of the modern political campaign. … Voters have come to expect election debates, particularly in the race for the president of the United States but increasingly for other elective offices as well. (Political Election Debates: Informing Voters about Policy and Character, William L. Benoit)
Senator Roberts‘ decision to skip debates makes sense on only one level, that being the preservation and promotion of his political career. Evidently he and his political advisers have decided that he can win the primary election without the candidate participating in one or more debates. Kansans are deprived of a useful part of the political process.
But Roberts’ career and his electoral prospects are not relevant public policy.
That Roberts won’t debate is rich in irony. In his reporting of Roberts’ decision to skip debates with his main opponent Dr. Milton Wolf, Steve Krake wrote “Roberts is a Marine who portrays himself as willing to stand up to anybody. But he won’t stand up to Wolf, whose feisty, upstart campaign has given the incumbent headaches from the start.” (Steve Kraske: Sen. Pat Roberts won’t debate Milton Wolf)
Another element of irony is that the United States Senate is often described using phrases like “the world’s greatest deliberative body,” partly due to its tradition of allowing unlimited, or lengthy, debate. Roberts has served in that body for nearly 18 years and wants another term.
(Excerpt) Read more at watchdogwire.com ...
Wolfe should hold a debate...announce he’ll take all questions..including from the audience..have a moderator, and three newspeople to ask him questions..and have an empty chair, or a life size cutout of Roberts on the stage..
Wolfe should challenge the Demonrat candidates to debate. Just treat Roberts like he already lost the nomination and move on to the Nov election debates.
The Dems will likely refuse, and at that point Wolfe can run as the candidate they ALL are afraid to debate.
Either way it would get him in the news, and give him lots of free advertising on TV.
Hardly. Taylor needs all the publicity he can get and I have absolutely no doubt he'd be there in a heartbeat. Plus there's an independent - Greg Orman - running and he'd be glad to share a stage with Wolf. So the ball is in Dr. Miltie's court.
Who is Milton Wolf ? What has he done ? Nobody knows. Not even his supporters.
Remember when Arlen Specter was shouted down during a townhall meeting during his last run at the Senate?
Well, now all politicians are avoiding the townhall event, instead opting for "virtual" townhalls held over conference calls on telephones.
And now they are avoiding public debates, too.
-PJ
I ran against our establishment GOP incumbent governor this year in the primary.
He wouldn’t debate me either.
A gross disservice to We the People, IMO.
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